Fri.-Sabbath, 12/29-31/17 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! Here is Thomas Watson, from his great work, "The Art of Divine Contentment":

"What it is then to learn Christ?

"To learn Christ is to be made like Christ, to have the divine characters of His holiness engraven upon our hearts: 'We all with open face, beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image,' (2 Cor. 3:18). There is a metamorphosis made; a sinner, viewing Christ's image in the [mirror] of the gospel, is transformed into that image. Never did any man look upon Christ with a spiritual eye, but he went away quite changed. A true saint is a divine landscape picture, where all the rare beauties of Christ are lively portrayed and drawn forth. He has the same spirit, the same judgment, the same will, with Jesus Christ."

Thurs., 12/28/17 Devotion (Rev. 19:6b)

Today's encouragement comes from Revelation 19:6b, where we read these words:

"Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

Are we not glad that this statement above is true—today? It does not say, "The Lord *will* reign someday”; or, “Christ's reign means everything goes smoothly and without a hitch." The reign of our Messiah—between His resur-rection and the great judgment day—is a rule from the midst of a redeemed church, which (in its militant state) finds itself in a fallen world.

Let us not be too moved by wars and rumors of wars, and by international in-trigue and upheaval. Over all these things our Lord God Omnipotent reigns.

[Puritan quote of the day: "You have a good God, a good Christ, and a good gospel.” —Obadiah Sedgwick, in, "The Anatomy of Secret Sins"]

Wed., 12/27/17 Devotion (2 Chron. 32:1a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 32:1a, where we read these words:

"After [King Hezekiah's] deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah . . . "

Notice here that it appears that Hezekiah's many faithful acts were "reward-ed" with the world's strongest man (politically and militarily) coming to Jeru-salem, to destroy it. Sometimes it seems that the people made righteous in Jesus' blood, and who are walking by faith in Him, are the ones who get the worst trials in this life. That may well be; but it is no cause for alarm for us, and neither should we be discouraged by it.

Later in this very chapter, at v. 20, Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah prayed together; and the Lord delivered Judah from all Sennacherib's threats, (de-stroying his army). That is a splendid biblical example of how the state (He-zekiah) and the church (Isaiah) are to minister together, in this world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "They have armies on their side, and strength and powers of the world on their side; but we have truth and God on our side!”
—Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]

Tues., 12/26/17 Devotion (Jn. 16:33)

Today's encouragement comes from John 16:33, where we read these words, uttered by our Lord Jesus:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

This is a beautiful verse (above). Christ seals the peace of His people; and then He gives them the assurance of His absolute and unwavering victory (in and through them—even in this world). "Tribulation" is a "shaking" dynamic. It is not a pleasant experience. But, even in the midst of undergoing it, we are to be of "good cheer," because Jesus, in His blood atonement and glorious resurrection, has forever secured the church's triumph over the world (in which we undergo our troubles).

Therefore, let us not be discouraged, but greatly heartened, in Jesus. Even our worst feelings and experiences are redeemed and sanctified, by the King and Head of the church: our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If the church is beautiful beyond all other of the children of men, how beautiful is Jesus Christ, from whom the church derives all its comeliness?” —Thomas Vincent, in, "The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ"]

Thurs. 12/21/17 Devotion (Zech. 8:2)

Today's encouragement comes from Zechariah 8:2, where we read these words:

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; with great fervor I am zealous for her.’ "

God is not zealous about very many things. Our Lord Jesus Christ's ministry saw Him pass by many things with relative indifference. But He *was* ex-tremely zealous for God's "house," (see Jn. 2:17). The church, the redeemed people of God, matter to Him.

Our problem is largely that we do not value what God treasures. Let us re-adjust our priority schema, so as to love what Christ loves, enjoy what He en-joys, and live for what He lives for. We will never regret doing so.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Where there is love to God, there is grieving for our sins of unkindness against Him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]

Wed., 12/20/17 Devotion (Rev. 11:15)

Today's encouragement comes from Revelation 11:15, which says this:

"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’ "

These words remind us Handel's "Messiah," where the great musician quotes this verse. Jesus Christ's life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and ses-sion in heaven (where He sits and rules heaven and earth as the Great King), is a great source of comfort and joy for the saints. We sing about Him and His reign in this season of Advent.

It is sweet that we do not have to “wait” for Jesus to govern in some future time. He *already* “rules the world, with truth and grace.” Let us be His cheerful and wiling servants—the faithful members of His holy church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "You cannot honor your Father in heaven unless you honor your earthly parents.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Ten Command-ments"]

Tues., 12/19/17 Devotion (Zech. 6:12b)

Today's encouragement comes from Zechariah 6:12b, where we read these words:

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: 'Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD.’ "

Jesus is the "Branch." Ever since His resurrection, ascension, and the pour-ing-out of the blessed Holy Spirit (at Pentecost) on the church, His gospel and church kingdom have been "branch[ing] out" all over the globe. The Lord Jesus is "build[ing] the temple" every Sunday, as He edifies His church; and, indeed everyday, as He abides with each individual believer.

Let us be thankful for the work of The "Branch"; and let us derive all of our nourishment and fruitfulness from Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "'Israel sighed by reason of their bondage,' (Ex. 2:23); but sinners are willing to be slaves, they will not take their freedom; they kiss their fetters.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Mon., 12/18/17 Devotion (2 Chron. 21:20a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 21:20a, where we read these words:

"He [King Jehoram of Judah] was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed [died]."

To me, this is one of the most comical texts in all the Bible. (But it is also very tragic.) Jehoram finally "kicks the bucket," after suffering grievously in his body, because of all his flagrant rebellion against the Lord, and his unrepent-ed-of sins—and nobody is sad about it. Instead, if anything, the people of Ju-dah are relieved.

Some lives leave nothing but shame behind them, after the person is gone. The memory of the godly churchman, however, always brings joy to the saints, and glory to God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Never think to be kings when you die, and slaves while you live. The crown of glory is for conquerors, not for captives.” —Tho-mas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]

Fri.-Sabbath, 12/15-17/17 Devotion

Hooray—it is almost Sunday! Here are good words from the esteemed Thom-as Watson, from his book, "The Ten Commandments":

"Faith in Christ is acceptable to God because it is a self-denying grace; it makes a man go out of himself, renounce all self-righteousness, and wholly rely on Christ for justification. It is very humble; it confesses its own indigence [poverty], and lives wholly upon Christ. As the bee sucks sweetness from the flower, so faith sucks all its strength and comfort from Christ.

"Faith is a grace acceptable to God, because by faith we present a righteous-ness to Him which best pleases Him; we bring the righteousness of Christ in-to court, which is called the righteousness of God, (2 Cor. 5:21). To bring Christ's righteousness, is to bring Benjamin with us. A believer may say, 'Lord, it is not the righteousness of Adam, or of the angels, but of Christ who is God-Man, that I bring before thee.' The Lord cannot but smell a sweet sa-vor in Christ's righteousness."

Thurs., 12/14/17 Devotion (Jn. 4:22)

Today's encouragement comes from John 4:22, where we find our Lord Jesus saying these words:

"You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews."

This is a very bold and highly politically-incorrect assertion our blessed Messi-ah makes here. He is basically teaching that all who worship false gods (or even misguided concoctions of the true God—as was the case with the Sa-maritan to whom Jesus spoke these words) were blind in their devotion, and did not know their deity. Then, Christ has the audacity to affirm that "salvation is of the Jews." It does not come from any other ethnicity—because the Per-son of salvation (Jesus) came from the Jews.

Do we have this kind of faith-confidence in the Son of God; or are we reduced to saying silly things like, "All roads lead to heaven"? Let us follow our Mas-ter's lead; and let us do it with love and grace, as His holy church.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A heartless, drooping, and discouraging life and walk is very unbecoming the gospel of Christ.” —James Durham, in, "The Un-searchable Riches Of Christ"]

Mon., 12/4/17 Devotion (2 Chron. 3:8a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 3:8a, where we read these words:

"And he [Solomon] made the Most Holy Place. . . . "

What a remarkable statement (above). A fallen man, a sinner, would “make" the earthly most holy place—in the very pattern of what Jesus entered into for His church in heaven. God honors us, by giving us such amazing privileges. Think of it: Mary, a fallen soul, bears the sinless Christ Child. We, depraved sinners (in ourselves), become the vessels of the Blessed Holy Spirit, (see 2 Cor. 4:7).

The redeemed church—even now—is nestled in the very heart of the Holy Trinity, in that God's children are *in* the Son of God, who is now both God and man. The worship offered by regenerated churchmen here on earth is perfectly received by God, in Jesus, in glory (heaven).

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is not how much we do, but how much we love.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]